Behind the Scenes
Research Process:
As we began our exploration of the redevelopment of Times Square, we intended to create a documentary charting the relationship between Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and the Disney Corporation, and prove how their partnership changed the face of the area. However, after days of research, spent poring over history books, newspaper articles, interviews, and archives, we came to a very different conclusion. Our research brought to light another perspective; the redevelopment of 42nd Street was a slow progression that began in the late 1930’s, spanning decades and administrations. Various individuals and governments contributed to the evolving process, and then Giuliani appeared on the scene, completed the finishing touches, and received the credit for years worth of work.
Creative Process:
Armed with our thesis, we now faced the challenge of translating all of our research into a completely different language. Having watched historical documentaries in the past, we never imagined the challenges inherent in bringing history to the screen. Days were spent knee deep in archives, books, old newspapers, and online image sources, searching for the hundreds of images that would be needed to portray our ideas. With this medium, it would not be enough to simply support our argument, we had to show it as well. Conducting our own interview with author Lynne Sagalyn, and gaining insight from those conducted by others, we watched hours worth of footage, gleaning any necessary information, interesting perspectives, or witty lines that would enhance the film. To view some clips from our interview, check out the Interview page.
The differences between simply presenting a written perspective on history and creating a documentary lies greatly in the writing itself. While in a research paper, the more detail-oriented and specific one is, the better. The challenge becomes finding enough information and gathering enough details to bolster your thesis. However, when creating a movie, one must find the very delicate balance between academic quality and the entertainment factor. The goal is to present your ideas in an appealing and engaging manner, to captivate your audience, and grab their attention. The challenge here becomes sifting through the unbelievable amounts of information and detail, and chose enough detail to be historically accurate, but not too much that you lose your audience. The final stage is writing a script that presents the facts in a clearly organized manner, while also engaging and entertaining the viewers.
Once we charted our film, wrote the script, and prepared the images and footage, it was time to put everything together. Choosing the proper music for the soundtrack is an integral part of making a good film. The music must be representative of the era you are depicting; it must make a statement of its own, without overpowering the message you are trying to impart. The incorporation of research, images, footage, script, music, and timing combines to form our documentary, “Times Square: The Truth Behind the Transformation.”
To view the fruit of all our efforts, go to Times Square Home.